Invercargill Licensing Trust

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The Invercargill Licensing Trust is a Licensing Trust in the city of Invercargill, New Zealand.

It has a monopoly on the development of premises licensed for the sale of alcoholic beverages, and associated accommodation, in the city and uses the profits from these to fund school, sports and cultural groups, and welfare bodies. Along with its Charitable Trust and Sports Foundation it provides donations and sponsorships of approximately $3 million annually to nearly 500 organisations.

The Invercargill Licencing Trust works closely with Invercargill's police department to ensure that independent bars and restaurants are not allowed to become a threat to their monopoly. While independent operators rail against this tyrannical system there are few who have had any success. The Invercargill Licencing Trust monopoly prevents supermarkets and other businesses in Invercargill from selling alcoholic beverages.

Among the contributions they have made to the community the ILT have donated a large sum to the Southern Institute of Technology. In return the Southern Institute of Technology give many of their first year students a free day on Fridays so that they may make use of the ILT's Thursday night student drink specials without endangering their studies.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] History

The concept of Licensing Trusts in New Zealand was first introduced by the Invercargill Licensing Trust Act 1944, and was developed by the recommendations of the Report of the Royal Commission on Licensing 1946.

[edit] References

History of the Invercargill Licensing Trust (Invercargill, 1955)
Pubs, Pints and People: 50 Years of the Invercargill Licensing Trust, Clive Lind, (Invercargill, 1994)